Case for inclosing an object such as alpha watch, alpha lighter, or otherwise



May 31, 1932.

R. F. EGOUVILLON ET AL CASE FOR INCLOSING-AN OBJECT SUCH AS A WATCH, A LIGHTER, OR OTHERWISE Filed Jan. 21, 1931 yearn U0 1, L a fan /f0 /MM- Patented May 31, 1932 PATNT FFECE noBERT FREDERIC EGOUVILLON AND JEAN ROBERT LAFON, OF PARIS, FRANCE CASE FOR INCLOSING AN OBJECT SUCH. AS A WATCH, A LIGHTER, OR OTHERWISE Application filed January 21, 1931, Serial No. 510,256, and in France January 25, 1930.

The object of theinvention is a case for inclosing an object such as a watch, a lighter,

a vanity case, a mirror, a cigarette case or otherwise.

It is characterized by the fact that it comprises a body, a slide carrying the object and adapted to be displaced in the body, so that the objectcan be either concealed therein, or projected therefrom, as well as a mechanism connecting the body to the slide, serving to project the object from the body and amplifyingin this object the movement which is communicated to the slide.

The annexed drawings represent, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention andshows a case inclosing-a watch.

Fig. 1 is an elevation, with the parts in the position in which the watch is visble.

Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations showing the movable parts in two different positions.

, Figs. 4, 5 and '6 respectively are sections passing through the lines IVI V of Fig. 5,

V V and'VI-Vlof Fig. 4:.

The body c of the case represented comprises two shells a, b which each have, as seen from the front, a rectangular form and as seen in side elevation, the form of a rectangle on one of the small sides of which is a quarterol a circle. They each have two projecting flanges (Z and e, and f and g, giving a hold for the fingers, are open at one of their extremities and can slide longitudinally the one upon the other owing to the grooves h disposed in the shell 5 and to the projecting parts 2' of the shell a housed in these grooves; the shell bis provided with an exterior projection 5.

The shells a and Z2 protect the slide j constituted by a frame comprising two longitudinal pieces In and Z, and two transverse pieces m, n; the piece m is at a certain distance from one of the extremities of the piece is or l as the case may be; as to the othern, it is situated at the other extremities of these pieces 7c, Z and has a form corresponding substantially to that of the combined closed extremities of the shells a and b. The frame can move in the guides 0 of theseshells and carries the watch 72 of rectangular form, which is hinged to the transverse piece m by a hinge g. The watch p is supported in its normal position in the frame j which it does not hinder on the retraction of the frame into the shells a, Z), by two small flat springs 7 carried by the piece on and bearing on the adjacent portion of the watch; the winding crown s of the latter is then housed in a cutout portion t of the piece a; but can nevertheless leave this normal position under the action of a spring a in order to occupy an inclined position (as shown dotted in Fig. 2).

The extreme pivot o of a lazy-tongs 'w is carried by the shell Z), whilst the other extreme pivot 00 is connected to the slide j; the central pivot 6 is connected to and moved by the shell a by means of the piece 10. The slide j has laterally exterior projections j/ on which operate spiral springs z housed in the cavities of the shell a, partly disposed on rods 2 and resting at their other extremities on threaded plugs 3; they then extend to bring the slide to the position of Fig. 4. The rods 2 are integral with the plugs 3 and limit the course of 7' towards the exterior; a plate 12 covers the lazy-tongs w and has a suitable cut-out portion for the passage of the pivots of these latter.

The functioning of this embodiment of the invention is as follows Normally, that is to say when it is notdesired to see the time, the two shells a, Z), occupy a position in which their extremities are both exactly at the height the one of the other; the springs a maintain the slide on the interior of the shells, so that the piece a is in contact with the shells a and b; the lazy tongs w are collapsed the one upon the otherv in the space limited by the parts is, Z, m, the adjacent extremity of the shells a, 7) and the plate 12. In these conditions, the watch. is absolutely sheltered from shocks and the body 0 has a form very substantially symmetrical, as can be seen by an examination of Figs. 8, 5.

If it is desired to see the time one takes hold of the body 0 with one hand. the shell a is maintained in position by acting on its flange 6 or (Z by a thumb and the shell I) is made to slide with relation to the shell (1 a certain amount, by operating on the projection 5 by means of one or several other fingers. The central pivot 6 of the lazy-ton gs w is thus caused to move itself this same amount from the bottom to the top (Figs. 1, 4) with relation to the shell I) and the opening action thus imparted to the lazy-tongs also forces the slide j to be projected from between the shells a and b; from the shell a the same distance but from the shell 6 a larger amount, which larger amount is such that the whole of the dial of the watch can be seen (Figs. 1, 2) by the relative movements-of the'parts the springs 2 are compressed.

In the case where it is desired to keep the watch in th is position, in order to wind it for example,it is turned'around the hinge q, so that ittakes up an inclined position (Fig. 2) shown dotted, and prevents the retraction of the slide into the shells a, 6 under the action of the springs a.

When the watch 39 is brought to the interionofthe trame y and when one replaces with a finger the two shells a,b,-to their relative nomal position,;the springs 2 also cause the frame Witli-thewatch p-t'o reenter the interior ofthe shells.

The distance the slide 7' projects from-the shells a,b;for a relative displacement given to'these latter depends on the disposition given to the lazy-tongs to (length of the levers-number of these latter) The form of the body not the shells-a, b, of the slide ',0f the watch 29 and the manner inwhich the two shells slide the one uponthe other, can vary. I

Instead of utilizinga' relative displacement to the parts a, bot the body to-extend the lazy-tongs, one can make used a' push piece disposed at the end of the body or of two lateral push pieces, operating with this object" on the lazy-tongs, to produce theirextensiong-in this caseythe body can bein a single piece.

The object which the case incloses need not be a" watch, but canbe a lighter, vanity case: or otherwise.

What we claim-and desire to secure by Letters'Patent of the United States-of America 1s:

1 A case for inclosing an objectsuch as awatch, lighter and thelikc, saidcase comprising a hollow body formed from two shells adapted to slide the one with respect to the other, a slide carry-ingthe object and adapted to'be displaced in the body, so'tha-t the object can be concealed therein or projected therefrom, means for connecting the body to the slide, such means being operable to project the slide and object carried thereby from the body, and to-retract these parts into the body, said means including means for amplifyingthe movement imparted to the object, the means for connecting the body to the slide .being. of such a nature that the movements are imparted to the slide and object carried thereby, by the relative sliding movements of the two shells of the body.

2. A case for inclosing an object such as a watch, lighter and the like, said case comprising a hollow body formed from two shells adapted to slide the one with respect to the other, a'slide carryingthe object'and adapted to be displaced in the body, so that the object can be concealed therein or projected therefrom, means for connecting. the. body'to'the slide, such means being operable to project the slideand object carried thereby from-the body, and to retract these parts into the body, said means including means for amplifying the movement imparted to the object, the means for connecting the body to the slide being of such a nature that the movements are imparted to the slide and object carried thereby, by the relative'sliding movements of the two shells of the body and spring means tending to retain the slide and object within the body.

3. A case for inclosing an object such as a watcli,-ligliter and the like, such case comprising a hollow body formed from two shells adapted to slide the one with respect to the other, one of the shells havin grooves and the other projecting portions adapted to move in said grooves, a slide carryingthe object and adapted to bedisplaced in the body, so that the object can be concealed therein or projected therefrom,means for connecting the body to theslide, such means being operable toproject the slide and object carried thereby from the body, and to retract these parts into the body, said means including. means for amplifying the movement imparted to the object, the means for. connecting the body to the slide being of such a nature that the movements are imparted to the slideand object carried thereby,,by the relative sliding movements of the two shells of the body.

4. case for inclosing an-object such as a watch, lighter and the like, said case comprising a hollow body formed from two shells adapted to slide the one with respect to the other, a slide carrying the object and adapted to be displaced in the body, so that the object can be concealed therein or projected therefrom, lazy-tong means for connecting the body to the slide, such lazy-tong'means being. operable to project the slide and object carried thereby from the body, and to retract these parts into the body, said lazytong means being constructed to amplify the movement imparted to the object, the means for connecting the body to the slide being of such a nature that the movements are imparted to the slide and object carried thereby, by the relative sliding movements of the two shells of the body.

5. A case for inclosing an object such as a watch, lighter and the like, said case comprisinga hollow body formed from two shells adapted to slide the one with respect to the other, a slide carrying the object and adapted to be displaced in the body, so that the object can be concealed therein or projected therefrom, a lazy-tongs, having one extreme pivot connected to one shell towards the extremity of said shell and having the other extreme pivot connected to the slide, whilst an intermediate pivot of the lazy tongs is connected to a suitable part of the other shell, such lazytong means being operable to project the slide and object carried thereby from the body, and to retract these parts into the body, said lazytong means being constructed to amplify the movement imparted to the object, the con-. struction and arrangement being such that the movements are imparted to the slide and object carried thereby, by the relative sliding movements of the two shells of the body.

6. A case for inclosing an object such as a watch, lighter and the like, as claimed in claim 4 in which spring means are interposed between the slide and one of the shells and subjected to a restoring stress when the two shells are slidden one with respect to the other for the purposes set forth.

7 A case for inclosing an object such as a watch, lighter and the like as claimed in claim 4 in which stop means are provided for limiting the movement of the slide towards the exterior.

8. A case for inclosing an object such as a watch, lighter and the like as claimed in claim 4 in which the object has on the exterior at least one projection giving a hold for the fingers when the mechanism is operated.

In witness whereof we afiix our signatures.

ROBERT FREDERIC EGOUVILLON. JEAN ROBERT LAFON. 

